Chapter Sixteen

Steel

I jump up and down when I hear noises outside our door. It’s not the usual time that they bring food and water, but I can’t wait for another opportunity. I haven’t slept in three days, and Del is barely breathing. Not to mention, neither of us have had anything to eat. I only allow us the water because they’re in sealed bottles.

“I have a doctor out here, Steel,” I hear Paston say. “I’m going to need you to stand near the bathroom door so that he can come in.”

“Fuck you,” I scream.

“She’s going to die,” he says. “She needs help.”

“She needed help two days ago,” I argue back. “Hell, she would have been just fine had you not kidnapped us.”

“Okay, we’ll come back when you pass out from lack of sleep,” he says calmly. “Or when she dies. Whichever comes first.”

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

“Okay,” I sigh, moving to the back of the room. “Fine. I’m by the door.”

I press my back against the cold concrete wall, my eyes locked on Delphi’s motionless form. Her breathing is shallow, a faint rasp that makes my stomach tighten.

I hear the door unlock and swing open, the harsh clank echoing through the otherwise silent room. I straighten, moving to stand in front of Delphi protectively, my muscles tense. I’m not letting anyone touch her without a fight.

Two figures step inside. Paston, of course, his imposing figure blocking the doorway. Behind him, I see a man in a white coat, probably the doctor. He looks nervous, hesitant, like he doesn’t want to be here anymore than I do.

“Move,” Paston says flatly, his voice cold, devoid of any emotion as he gestures to the bathroom door. “Get in position. Let him do his job.”

I grit my teeth, trying to hold back the anger that burns through my veins. “You think I’m just going to stand aside and let this bastard touch her?”

Paston shrugs as though he’s indifferent, but something in his eyes tells me he’d rather not let Del die. What’s his plan?

“If you’re smart, you will. I’m not asking for your permission.” He steps closer, his hand moving to the doorframe like he’s ready to grab me if I don’t comply. “You don’t want her to die, do you?”

The threat is unspoken, but it’s there. My fists clench at my sides, but I know better than to take a swing at him now. He’ll just make things worse for Delphi.

Reluctantly, I move to the side, my heart pounding in my chest. “Hurry the hell up,” I growl, stepping back but keeping my body angled toward the door. I won’t let them get close to her without seeing every move they make.

The doctor steps forward hesitantly, his eyes flicking nervously between Paston and me. He’s probably just doing what he’s told, but I don’t trust anyone who works for that piece of shit.

The doctor sets down his medical bag, glancing at Delphi, then at me. “We need to stabilize her. I can try something, but it’s risky. She’s been without proper care for too long. She needs IV fluids, antibiotics…”

“No shit,” I cut him off, my voice low and deadly. “Do it, but don’t think for one second I trust you.”

Paston leans against the doorframe, his eyes on Delphi, his face unreadable. “She’s still alive because I’m letting her breathe. You’d do well to remember that, Steel. Keep her alive, doctor.”

The doctor starts to unpack his supplies, carefully setting up a needle, his hands shaking slightly. I can’t look away from Delphi. Every part of me wants to grab her, take her, and run the hell out of here before Paston decides to do something worse.

But I can’t. Not yet. If I try something too soon, she’ll pay the price.

“I’m doing everything I can,” the doctor mutters as he prepares the IV. He gives a quick look in my direction like he’s waiting for permission, but I don’t trust him enough to give it.

Paston notices the hesitation and gives an impatient grunt. “Hurry up. If she dies because you fucked this up, I’ll make sure you never work again. Not in this town or anywhere else.”

The doctor goes pale, his hands working faster now. I’m still on edge, ready to react at the first sign of anything going wrong.

Delphi’s body is too still. Her skin is colder than it should be, and her lips are starting to turn an unnatural shade of blue. Panic rises in my chest.

“Please, just don’t let her die,” I whisper, more to myself than anyone else. The words feel useless in the air, like a prayer, but I need to say them.

Paston glances over his shoulder at me, his eyes cold, like he’s amused. “She’s not dead yet. You should be thanking me for even bothering. You have no idea how lucky you are that I’m letting you keep her around this long.”

“Fuck you,” I growl, my voice breaking. I’m not going to beg. I’m not going to let him see me crack, but it’s getting harder to stay composed.

The doctor finishes with the IV, stepping back and checking Delphi’s vitals. His expression shifts from clinical detachment to something resembling concern. “She’s stabilized for now. But it’s touch and go. She needs constant monitoring.”

Paston nods, seemingly satisfied, though I can see the smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. He looks at the doctor. “Make sure she stays alive. You don’t leave this building until she’s up and moving. Now, go. I’ll send for you to check on her in half an hour.”

The doctor nods quickly, packing up his things, avoiding eye contact with both Paston and me. He hurries out the door as though he’s been given a pass to leave, not wanting to overstay his welcome.

Paston turns to face me fully now, his dark eyes gleaming with malicious intent. “Don’t think this changes anything, Steel. She’s still mine to do with as I please. You’ll be gone soon enough.”

I take a step toward him, my fists clenched, but I hold back. I can’t risk it. Not now. Not when Delphi is so fragile.

“She better survive,” I growl. “If she dies, you’ll wish for death by the time I’m through with you.”

Paston chuckles darkly, clearly unafraid of my threat. “You don’t have the power to do anything, Steel. But you’re welcome to try.”

And with that, he turns and walks out, leaving me alone with Delphi, my heart pounding and my thoughts racing.

I’m going to get her out of here. I have to.

***Delphi Mae***

“Can someone please turn off the lights?” My voice is a hoarse whisper, barely audible even to myself.

“Thank fuck, you’re awake,” Steel says, his voice thick with emotion. The warmth of his hand rests on mine, and I try to squeeze it, but my fingers feel stiff. His grip tightens in response like he’s afraid to let go. I can sense the panic that lingers just beneath his calm exterior.

“Steel?” I croak, the name a soft breath on my lips. I feel his hand tighten again, like a lifeline, and I finally manage to focus on him. His face is blurred, but I can tell he’s close. His features seem tight, his brow furrowed with concern.

“Yeah, sweetheart,” he replies, his voice a mix of relief and fear. “It’s me. You’re safe. You’re gonna be okay. Just stay with me.”

I want to believe him. I need to. But I can feel the weight of my body dragging me down, the exhaustion suffocating me. It’s hard to keep my eyes open, but I don’t want to close them again.

“Where are we?” I manage to ask, the question barely a whisper, but the urgency in it cuts through the haze clouding my thoughts. I already know the answer as memories flash before me.

Steel’s voice softens, and I can hear the anger buried beneath the surface. “We’re still here, Del. But we’re getting out. I swear it. I have a plan. I’ve just been waiting for you to wake up.”

Steel’s words bring a flicker of hope, but the reality of our situation presses heavily against my chest. The cold, sterile room is a constant reminder of where we are and who’s controlling our fate.

I glance toward Steel, his face set like stone, the anger in his eyes barely restrained. “What plan?” I whisper, my voice shaky but insistent.

“I’ve been mapping their movements,” he says, leaning closer so his voice doesn’t carry. “These walls are paper thin. I can hear everything that happens out there. There’s a shift change every eight hours, and they’re sloppy about it. Paston’s men don’t lock the outer door until the new guy’s in place. It gives us about two minutes of opportunity.”

“Two minutes?” I manage, the skepticism clear in my tone.

Steel gives me a tight smile, one that doesn’t reach his eyes. “It’s all I need. But you need to be able to move, Del. If you can’t stand, I’ll carry you, but we have to make it count.”

My breath catches as I consider his words. My body feels weak, like a shell of itself, but I trust Steel. If he says there’s a chance, then there is one. “I don’t want to slow you down,” I say, hating how vulnerable I sound.

“You won’t,” he says firmly, his hand gripping mine for a brief moment. “I’m not leaving you here, so don’t even think about it.”

A sharp knock on the door startles both of us. Steel immediately moves to block my view, his broad frame shielding me.

“Doctor’s coming in for a follow-up,” a gruff voice calls out from the other side. “Don’t make it difficult.”

The lock clicks, and the door creaks open to reveal an older man with silver hair, a neatly trimmed beard, and eyes filled with fear. In his hand in a well-used medical bag. Is this the doctor?

“By all means, don’t rush,” Steel growls from my side. “It’s not like she’s dying or anything.”

The doctor winces and kneels beside me. “I’m doing the best I can,” he whispers shakily, his hands trembling as he checks my pulse and temperature. He looks at my incisions before changing the bandages. “The antibiotics are working, but she’s still weak. She needs more fluids and food if she’s going to recover fully. But I need to remove this IV. It looks like the vein is busted. I’ll have to see about getting a new one brought in. For now, drink as much water as you can handle.”

Paston steps into the doorway, his arms crossed as he watches the scene unfold. The doctor stiffens but doesn’t stop working, his hands shaking as he retrieves a fresh syringe from his bag.

“How much longer does she need?” Paston asks, his voice impatient. “We need to leave tomorrow morning. Can she travel?”

“She isn’t going anywhere,” Steel growls.

“Well?” Paston asks, ignoring Steel.

“She’s not well enough to travel right now,” the doc says shakily. “But I’ll give her a shot of steroids. That should give her some extra strength without exhausting her body too much.”

“Make it happen,” Paston orders before leaving.

The doctor nods quickly, injecting something into my arm that burns as it enters my bloodstream. He leans down, pretending to check the IV line, but his movements are slower, almost deliberate. He angles his head just slightly toward Steel on the other side of my body, his voice dropping to a whisper only we can hear.

“Three hours,” the doctor murmurs, his lips barely moving.

“Hurry it up,” one of Paston’s guards orders.

“Wait for the signal,” the doctor whispers.

“She’s stable for now,” he says out loud. “She’ll need another dose in six hours. I just need to pack up and I’ll be ready to go.”

The guard waiting for the Doc doesn’t seem to be paying attention, so he doesn’t notice when the doctor shoves something bulky under my body.

“She needs sleep,” he tells Steel. “I’ll be back later to give her another antibiotic injection.”

Without another word, the doc leaves, and the guard locks us in. Neither one of us says a word for a long while. Apart from Steel moving to sit beside us, we don’t move.

After several long minutes, Steel seems satisfied enough to speak.

“I don’t think there are any cameras in here,” he says softly. “The walls are thin, so whisper. What did he shove under your body?”

“I’m not sure,” I whisper. “But it’s bulky and metal. It’s against the skin of my back where my shirt is raised.”

“Like I said before, I don’t think there are cameras, but I’m going to angle myself to sit behind you, and you simply lean against me, alright.”

Nodding, I wait for him to get into place behind me, his legs on either side, before he helps me sit up.

“Ouch,” I cry softly. “It didn’t hurt this bad when we left the hospital.”

“You have an infection, sweetheart,” he tells me. “Here, lean against me.”

Slowly, I lean back until I’m resting against Steel’s chest.

“Good girl,” he murmurs, wiping the hair from my face. “I’ve never known a woman as brave as you, Del. I thought for sure you’d be in hysterics by now.”

“As crazy as it sounds, this isn’t the scariest thing I’ve been through,” I admit. “But that doesn’t mean I’m not freaking out on the inside.”

Steel spends the next minute playing with my hair as I relax against his body.

“You’re going to make a wonderful husband one day,” I say. “You’re so caring and nurturing even though you always look mad.”

Chuckling, Steel rests his chin on the top of my head.

“I’m not always mad,” he tells me. “Just in control. I can’t let my emotions take over, or I’ll become the beast that I look like.”

“Blaze looks like a beast, too,” I remind him. “Just a happy one.”

“Which is why we’ve always felt the desire to stay together,” he says softly. “Blaze is quite literally my soulmate.”

“Wait, do you mean that you guys are a couple?” I ask, shocked. “He’s your twin.”

“No,” Steel chuckles. “We will one day share a single person, though. Blaze and I balance one another out. But we need a sweet, perfect someone to complete us. It sounds weird to the outside world, but it’s how we’ve always felt. I’ll never be happy in a relationship with someone if my brother isn’t there with us. I’m stern. I like rules. I like being in charge. And, while my brother can be those things, too. He’s soft. Loves to cuddle. Smiles. Our sweet person will need those things.”

“You’re not as hard as you think. I’ve seen your soft side a lot since we became prison buddies. Besides, who cares what the rest of the world thinks,” I tell him. “You two together are going to make someone feel so loved and so safe.”

“I hope so,” he says. “By the way, don’t tell Reynolds that I held you like this. He may shoot me.”

“He will not,” I laugh before clutching my side. “Don’t make me laugh. It hurts.”

“Okay, he may not shoot me, but if he knew I sat with you so close to my junk, he may very well punch me. I can’t afford any more bruises on my face. Need to make sure I stay this devilishly handsome for my person.”

I press harder on my side as the giggles rush through my body. I know that Steel’s distracting me as he messes around with whatever the doc shoved under my body, but I’m too afraid to ask what it is. We may not see any cameras, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any.

“Strangely, I feel a small burst of energy,” I admit. “Do you think the doctor already gave me that steroid?”

“He did,” he says confidently. “I watched as he swiped the syringes. He’s helping us get out of here. We have to be ready.”

“Three hours,” I whisper, remembering what the Doc had said.

“Which is the exact time for shift change,” he whispers back. “Get some sleep, Del. I need you to be as rested and ready as possible.”

“What did he leave?” I whisper so softly I almost didn’t hear it myself.

Steel drops his chin from the top of my head to my shoulder and whispers, “Gun.”

My breath catches in my throat at Steel’s whispered word. A gun. The doctor left us a gun. It takes every ounce of self-control not to look around wildly, my instincts screaming that someone must have seen or heard.

“Where is it?” I whisper back, barely moving my lips.

“I have it,” Steel murmurs, his voice so low it’s almost inaudible. “It’s small, probably a pocket pistol, but it’s better than nothing.”

I swallow hard, my heart pounding. The thought of having a weapon gives me hope, but it also terrifies me. “Steel, I don’t know if I…”

“You don’t have to,” he cuts me off gently but firmly. “I’ll handle it, Del. But if something happens to me, you need to know it’s there. Just in case.”

I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. Okay, we have a weapon. Steel alone is a weapon. Now, we just need to wait for the right time.

If there ever is one.

“Sleep,” he orders. “I’ll keep you safe.”

Trusting him completely, I close my eyes and drift off to an unrestful, nightmare-filled slumber.